Cow Green Reservoir

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Cow Green Reservoir
The Dam at Cow Green
Lake type	reservoir
Basin countries	United Kingdom
Max. length	2 mi (3 km)

Cow Green Reservoir, a two mile (3 km) long water reservoir built between 1967 and 1971 to supply the industries of Teesside in England.^[1] Environmentally speaking this part of Upper Teesdale is of national importance, and the plan to construct this reservoir had been strongly opposed by local conservationists. Their main concern was the protection of the rich flora and fauna of the district and especially rare alpine plants like the unique Teesdale violet.

Cow Green Reservoir, with (l to r) Great Dun Fell, Little Dun Fell and Cross Fell in the background at a distance of about 10km

Thankfully only about a tenth of this plant's habitat was destroyed by the completion of the reservoir. The remaining area was designated a National Nature Reserve in 1969, from what was previously two separate nature reserves.